Wrote 9/19/16 (No pictures this week. But was able to volley just a bit:) Slightly edited/combined letters)
Hey fam!
This week has been good! It's been raining a lot!
Been talking with lots and lots of people! Most of the ward is inactive so we've been trying to meet all the members this week and try and get them to church. Yeah I've gotten my training on the whole facebook thing. But the new facebook thing is way cool. My mission is one of fifteen missions (of the 460ish) that have "online proselyting"! It's such a great opportunity to be able to give our investigators "daily bread" and be able to further there faith every single day even if we just see them once a week in person. We use it as another way to have contact with the members, less actives, and our investigators. I'm able to see pictures of friends and family I just can't communicate with fam.
I had training on Friday up in Morristown which is about a hour away and it started at 9:30 and went to 3:30. Well we decided to get a bunch of elders together to play basketball at the chapel at 6 soooo we got up at 4:30 and got ready for the day and we went and played ball. Let's just say it was a very long and hard day haha!
So I got the package of Mac n cheese and gummy bears! Thank you! What blanket were you going to send?
Could you send me one of my blender bottles? And maybe any of the leftover protein powder that's left in the pantry? oh and send me some of those eco drinks! The water here is kinda gross so it's nice to have something else. I'd tell you to send some pre workout but I won't haha. There's this poem that my friend shared with me while I was in the MTC and I really really like it a lot. It talks about enduring to he end and missionary work, I read this anytime I need a "pick up".
"I'd been in that hole for a very long time-
In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.
The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear,
But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.
Nor could I remember the world way up there,
So I lost all my hope and gave into despair.
I knew nothing but darkness, the floors, and the walls,
When from off in the distance I heard someone call,
"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!
Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder."
This had never occurred to me, had not crossed my mind,
So I started to stack all the stones I could find.
When I ran out of stones, the old sticks were my goal,
For some way or another I'd get out of that hole.
So I soon had a ladder that was really quite tall,
And I thought "I'll soon leave this place once and for all!"
Then I climbed up my ladder, it was no easy chore -
For from lifting those boulders my shoulders were sore.
So I worked and I climbed and at last had to stop,
For my ladder stopped short - some ten feet from the top.
I climbed back down the ladder and felt all around,
But there were no more boulder nor sticks to be found.
I went back to my ladder and started to cry.
I'd done all I could do; I gave my best try.
But in spite of my work, in this hole I must die,
And all I could do was to sit and think, "Why?"
Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep?
Then from way up on high came a voice: "Do not weep."
And then hope, love, and faith entered my chest,
As the voice said to me that I'd done my best.
He said, "Nothing's the matter. There's reason to hope.
Just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope.
You have worked very hard, and your labor's been rough,
But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough."
I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord.
When I stood at the top, there stood the Lord.
I've never been happier; my struggle was done.
I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.
I fell to the ground; his feet did I kiss.
I cried, "What can I do to repay they for this?"
He looked all around Him- there were holes in the ground.
They had people inside, and were seen all around.
There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep.
Then the Lord turned to me and He said, "Feed my sheep."
Then He went on His way to help other lost souls.
And I got right to work, calling down to the holes,
"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!
Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder!"
It now was my turn to spread the good word.
The most glorious message that man ever heard.
That there's One who is willing to save one and all,
And we've got to be ready when He gives us the call.
He'll pull us out of the hole that we're in,
And save our souls from death and from sin.
So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope:
Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope."
OH AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY TO SAM!
But I'm doing great here! Each day keeps on getting better and better!
Me and my comp are getting along really well and we are getting lots and lots done!
Love you guys!
Elder Marz
3 Nephi 5:13
"13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."
"13 He aquí, soy discípulo de Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios. He sido llamado por él para declarar su palabra entre los de su pueblo, a fin de que alcancen la vida sempiterna."
